Advanced SDM Interviewing for the Family Strengths and Needs Assessment (FSNA)

Level: Advanced Practice – Lineworker

Credits: 3

Intended Audience: CI, FM, and FR workers and their supervisors or any CWS worker responsible for developing case plans. This class focuses on good interviewing skills and their use to successfully complete a Family Strengths and Needs Assessment (FSNA). The class begins with an overview of the assessment tool and then closely examines the items on the FSNA. Workers should bring the FSNA section of the SDM P&P manual.

Intended Objectives:

• To review/refresh basic Family Strengths and Needs Assessment (FSNA) policy/procedures
• To gain skills conducting interviews that focus on FSNA completion
• To become familiar with ways to gather information from families in order to complete the FSNA

Topics Include:

• Overview of the assessment tool
• Practicing how to use the definitions to accurately score the FSNA
• Formatting the interview
• Learning an efficient way to take notes in the field
• Practicing the interview

CalSWEC Competencies Addressed:

1.3 Trainee demonstrates the ability to conduct an ethnically and culturally sensitive assessment of a child and family and to develop an appropriate intervention plan.

1.5 Trainee understands the importance of a client’s primary language and supports its use in providing child welfare assessment and intervention services.

3.2 Trainee demonstrates the ability to perform a preliminary safety assessment and to monitor the safety of the child through ongoing assessment of risk

3.7 Trainee is able to gather, assess, and present pertinent information from interviews, case records, and collateral sources in evaluating an abuse or neglect
allegation and making effective referrals for services or further evaluation.